Apparatus for luring hat bodies



'July 14, 1942.

B. D. WELLS APPARATUS FOR LURING HAT BODIES Filed March` 2. 1940 APPARATUS FOR LURING HAT BODIES Filed March 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY July n14, 1942. B. D. WELLS I APPARATUS FOR LRING HAT BODIES '7 shets-sheet s Filed ulm-chg,l 1940 INVE`NTOR Baa/N6 h/fus ATTORNEY Jqly 14, 1942. \B D, .WELLS 2,289,814

APPARATUS FOR LURING HAT BODIES Filed March 2, 1940 '7 Sheets-'Sheet 4 INVENTOR Baez. /fv h/fa s ik 4 BYMMPZ/ ATTORNEY July 14, y1942. B. D. WELLS 2,289,814

APPARATUS FOR LURING HAT BODIES A Filed Maron 2, 1940 7 sheets-sheet 5 -INVENTOR aemvah/fas July 14, 1942.

B. D.`wE| Ls APPARATUS FOR DURING HAT `BODIES Filed March 2, 1940 7 sheets-sheet e Cv @mW Mmm Ta N ma vw n YM. B 6 -www Hw 2 ,ya 1/ M B. D. WELLS APPARATUS FOR LURING HAT BODIES Jly 14, 1942.

Filed March 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 KNK@ Nxm..

Patented `luly 14, 1942 Y 2,289,814 APPARATUS Foa LURING HAT BODIES Burling D. Wells, Danbury, Conn., assignor to The Mallory Hat Company, Danbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 2, 1940, serial No. 321,828

46 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for performing operations upon hat bodies, such as felt hats.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient apparatus for improving the finishf as by luring, of a hat body. Another object is to provide a dependable and practical apparatus for achieving dependable luring of both the crown and the brim of a hat body. Another object is to provide an apparatus for effecting dependable surface treatment, as by luring, of both sides of the brim of a hat. Another object is to provide a practical and eflicient apparatus for effecting uniform operation or action, as by luring, upon hat bodies and that will be capable of simple and eective control, yet requiring little, if any, supervision in so far as its action and operation are concerned. Another object is to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character that will be of compact construction, reliable in action, and Well adapted to meet the varying requirements of practical use.

Another object is to provide a simple and practical apparatus for effecting and controlling the heating of the tool, such as aso-calledluring cloth, that will be of high efliciency and productive of good results upon the hat body. Another object is in general to provide an improved apparatus for luring hats, to achieve superior luring effects, and to provide for durability of luring tools. Another object is to provide a practical apparatus for luring hat bodies capable of operating at higher temperatures than have heretofore been possible and of achieving improved luring action. Another object is to provide an apparatus for effecting dependable and efficient relative traverse between the operating tool or tools, such as luring tools and the hat body.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for dependable, safe and rapid relative shifting between one or more hat-operating machines and one or more hat-supporting means, for bringing a hat body into and out of operative relation to the tool or tools of the machines or to replace the hat body by a succeeding one. Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned character that will be well adapted for long continued automatic operation upon successive hat bodies and that will be capable of producing efcient and high quality results without requiring continuous manual supervision. Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned character capable of producing high quality of result at a high production rate.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application oi which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown a preferred illustrative embodiment of the mechanical features of my invention,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus, cer- `tain parts being in section or broken away;

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly in Vertical section, and other parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus, certain parts being broken away or shown in section;

Figure 4 is a diagram of the circuit arrangement for certain heater elements;

Figure 5 is a plan View on an ,enlarged scale of one of the luring tools as seen from the top in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 5 as seen from the right in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a detached vertical sectional View of certain of the parts of the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 8 is a detailed plan View, partly in horizontal section and on an enlarged scale of a clutch mechanism seen also in plan in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a view of the clutch mechanism of Figure 8 as seen along the line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view like Figure 1 showing in plan certain other parts;

Figure 11 is an end elevation, with parts omitted, as seen from the left in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the hat support carrier or bed, as seen along the line |2-I2 jof Figure l, with parts omitted;

Figure 13 is a View along the line l3-l3 of Figure l2 with parts omitted;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary elevation along the i line IIL-I4 of Figure 13;

Figure l5 is a plan view along the line l5-l5 of Figure 12, with parts omitted;

Figure 16 is a detached elevation, as viewed from the left in Figure 15, and

Figure 17 is a plan view, partly broken away, partly in section, and with parts omitted, showing certain interrelationships and controls, partly diagrammatically, between the carrier or bed and the various hat tool or operating mechanisms.

Similar reference characters refer to similar lured and that both the crown C and both sides` of the brim B are to be lured. Preferably, hat body I5 is mounted upon a block I6 over which the crown C snugly fits, thus forming a dependable interior backing for the crown throughout, leaving the brim B free.

The block I6 with the hat body I5 is preferably mounted for rotation about an appropriate axis, illustratively a horizontal axis, provided by a shaft I 'I mounted for rotation in a frame I8 and driven at a suitable, preferably relatively low, rate of speed. Any suitable or known means mounts the block I6 onto the shaft I1, such as a chuck 25, whose jaws are operable to release or engage the block I6 as by a handle 2|, even during the rotation 0f shaft I 'I and of the chuck itself.

Preferably, I mount a number of frames I3 with chucks on a carrier or bed I 9 and arrange for effecting successive relative movements c therebetween and one or more hat-operating machines; of the latter, I have shown in detail one of them, with its tool or tools and related mechanisms preferably related to a single frame 25.

Frame has suitable pillars having bearings 26, 21, preferably antifriction, for rotatably supporting shaft 26 which carries a number of cams hereinafter described and which is driven at a suitably slow rate of speed by any suitable means, preferably by an electric motor 30 (Figure 2) carried in a suitable upstanding frame part 3l. The driving connection is preferably through a clutch which may comprise two cylindrical parts 32, 33 (Figure 1); part 33 is splined t0 the shaft 28 while part 32 is free to rotate about the shaft unless the adjacent toothed members of these two clutch parts are in engagement, as in Figure 1. Clutch part 32 may be formed in the hub of, or is attached to, a gear such as worm wheel 34, which meshes with a worm 35 mounted on a horizontal shaft 36 which is rotatably carried in the upper part of the frame part 3| (Figure 2), whence it is driven from the motor 3U by worm 3l on the motor shaft and worm wheel 38 on shaft 36. With the clutch parts 32, 33 in engagement, motor 30, which is of any convenient type and connected to a power circuit in any suitable Way, effects the drive of cam shaft 28 at the desired slow rate of speed and in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2. Clutch 32, 33 is preferably constructed and automatically controlled to insure the drive, once the clutch is engaged, of cam shaft 28 throughout a single complete revolution.

At that end of the frame 25 substantially underneath the hat block chuck 2D when the latter and the mechanism carried by frame 25 are appropriately alined for operation upon the hat body, and preferably with its Vertical axis intersecting the axis of the chuck shaft Il, an upstanding boss 40 is provided in frame 25, being bored out, as is better shown in Figure 2, to form a bearing for a hollow vertical shaft 4I which at its upper end has formed integrally with it or secured to it a horizontal arm 42 and which at its lower end has secured to it a pinion 43, the

latter thus coacting with arm 42 to hold the shaft 4I against movement lengthwise of its bearing in the boss 46,' the latter is suitably hollowed out, as at 46a, to accommodate pinion 43 and also to expose a suitable portion of it for meshing engagement with a rack 44 formed on a square cross-sectioned bar 45 which extends lengthwise of frame 25 and just above its upper face, suitable upstanding bosses 46 and 4l of the frame 25 providing bearings for slidably guiding the rack bar 45 for longitudinal movement.

Near its left-hand end, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the rack bar 45 has secured to it an upstanding bracket 48 bifurcated at its upper end where it has rotatably mounted a cam follower in the form of a roller 59 which coacts with a suitably shaped cam 5I secured to cam shaft 28 as by its hub 52 and pin 53 (Figure l), Where, as in the present illustration, cam 5I operates upon cam follower 56 by its periphery, suitable means are employed to maintain the cam follower 5D always in engagement with the cam 5I, such as a spring 54 (Figure 2) anchored at one end to the frame 25 as by a pin 55 and secured at its other end as by pin 56 to the rack bar 45, spring 54 being of sucient strength and tension always to urge rack bar 45 toward the right and thus always to hold the cam roller 50 in engagement with the periphery of the cam 5I.

Depending `upon the shape of the cam 5I, illustratively like that shown in Figure 2, a single rotation of cam 5I causes rack bar 45 to partake of a single cycle of motion of translation which by the rack 44 and pinion 43 is translated into a swinging of hollow shaft 4I about its axis and hence into a swinging of horizontal arm 42, the direction and rate of swing being determined by the shape of cam 5I.

The outer end of arm 42 is provided with a sleeve-like extension 42a (Figure 2 and also Figure 7), thus providing a vertical bearing for the hollow shaft part 51 of another arm 58 which is thus mounted to swing in a horizontal plane above the plane of swing of the arm 42. Arm 58, which carries certain tools, as later described, is preferably biased or yieldingly urged to swing in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, relative to the oscillatable arm 42 to which it is pivotally jointed as above described, and this is preferably achieved by a spring 60 (Figures 2, 3 and 7) which preferably takes the form of a helical spring having its one end anchored to the arm 42, as by having it engaged in a recess 42b (Figure 7) and having its other end engaged in a short lever 6I having a hub 62 by which it is secured, as by pinning, to the lower end of a shaft 63 which extends through and is rotatably carried by the hollow shaft part 5l of arm 58. The upper end of the shaft 63 is suitably shaped as by making it square, as at 63a, to be engaged by a wrench so that it may be manually turned to adjust the tension of spring 6B. The shaft 63 has at its upper end also a toothed part 64 like a ratchet wheel or gear with which may be engaged a pawl 66 pivotally carried on the upper face of the arm 58, thus to hold the shaft 63 into whatever position of adjustment of the tension of the spring 60 that is given it.

As above noted, spring 6I) biases the arm 58 and the parts carried by it, as later described, in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, relative to the swinging arm 42; the latter has a sleeve-like portion 42c which serves as a bearing for a shaft 61 at one end of which is a peripheral cam 68 for coaction with a suitably shaped portion 58a of the arm 58, cam 68 having a peripheral configuration suitable to change the angle between arms -58 and 42in opposition to the bias of spring 60, in accordance with certain factors, such as the shape or contour of the crown of the hat which is to be acted upon by the tool or tools carried by the arm 58.

At the other end, shaft 61 has a pinion 18 which meshes with a rack 1| formed in a cylindrical rack bar 12 which is slidably supported by and within the hollow shaft part 4| of the arm 42 (Figure 2) so that upon movement in an up and down direction rack 1| effects rotary movement of pinion 18 and hence of cam 68.

The lower end of rack bar 12 has a slot 12a in which engages arm 13 of a bell crank lever that has a hub portion 14 (Figures 1 and 2) for pivotally supporting the lever by a shaft 15 suitably supported by the frame 25, the latter having an appropriate aperture to permit the other arm 16 of the bell crank lever to pass upwardly through the frame for coaction with a peripheral cam 11 secured to the cam shaft 28. Arm 16 is bifurcated (Figure 1) for the pivotal mounting of a roller or cam follower 18 for engagement with the periphery of cam 11.

Rotation of Carn 11 thus causes bell crank 'iever 18--13 to swing about its axis 15 in directions and to extents according to the shape of cam 11, illustratively shaped as shown in Figure 2, rack bar 12 being correspondingly `moved up or down and through rack 1| and pinion 10 changing the rotary position of cam 68. The connection between arm 13 of the bell crank lever and the rack bar 12 is preferably adjustable in any suitable way as, for example, by a screw 18 with a lock nut 88 (see also Figure 3); by such means the angular relationship between cam 11 on cam shaft 28 and cam 68 on the shaft 61 of arm 42 may be varied or set.

Arm 58 carries a tool structure which preferably comprises a frame generally indicated by the reference character 8| (Figures 2 and 3) that has an upper frame part 8|EL and a lower frame part 8|b joined by an upright frame part 8|c that holds the upper and lower frame parts together and in vertically spaced relation. Lower frame part 8|b has an offset downwardly extending stud 8|e (Figure 3) which is pivotally mounted in any suitable way, preferably as by a pair of combined radial and thrust ball bearings 82 (Figure 3) whose inner races are fitted to the frame stud 8|e and whose outer races are assembled and secured to the free end of arm 58-which is suitably conformed or shaped as at 58h, for that purpose. A relatively weak spring 89 (Figure 1) is connected between the lower frame part 8|b and the pivoted end of arm 58 to bias the frame 8| about the axis of its mounting stud 8 |e generally in the manner indicated in Figure l, all, of course, with respect to the arm 58. With the cams 5| and 11 in such a rotary position that their respective cam followers engage parts of the cams that are of minimum radius, oscillatable arm 42 assumes a position substantially like that of Figure 1, being practically the extreme position which it assumes in counter-clockwise direction of movement, while cam 68 that acts upon the arm 58 presents such a portion of its periphery to the arm 58 that under the action of spring 68 arm 58 and the spring-biased tool frame 8| assume positions relative to each other and to the arm 52 which carries them approximately like those shown in Figure 1, from which upon the tip portion it will be seen that the vertical axis of the frame stud 8|e falls substantially 'in a vertical plane through the axis of the chuck shaft I1, the ver-V tical axis of the hollow stud shaft 4| of arm 42 being also substantially in that vertical plane. These relationships of these parts may be considered to be those that exist at the starting of the operation of the tool carried by the frame 8| T of the crown C of hat I5 (Figures 2 and 3), and also at substantially the beginning and end of the later described traversing movements of the tool frame and its tools relative to the hat body I5.

1n this position of the tool frame 8|, the latter presents for engagement with the tip T of the crown C a tool preferably taking the form of a strip 83 of a suitable material for operating upon the hat body and in luring the material of strip 83 may be a suitable cloth, leather like chamois, or other appropriate material, but according to certain features of my invention the strip 83 is preferably made of woven mineral fibers like fiber glass of any suitable iineness of both ber and mesh of weave. The luring tool 83 is stretched or supported between the upper and lower frame parts 8|a and I1D are preferably from those edges or sides of these frame parts as face toward the block chuck when the parts are in the abovedescribed positions and generally shown in Figure 1.

Such a luring tool or strip 83 may thus be brought into engagement, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the tip T of the crown, and, as is later described, may be traversed to operate also upon the side S of the crown.

Preferably, also, I provide frame 8| with anv other tool of strip material 84 preferably of the same nature as the material 83 and hence of fiber glass cloth, strip 84' being also suspended or stretched from upper frame part 8la to lower frame pari-l 8|b but from those edge or side portions of the latter that make an angle of 90 with the side portions from which the above-de'- scribed strip 83 is suspended, the two strips 83 and 84 extending generally in vertical planes but at right angles to each other, as will be clear from Figures 1, 2 and 3.

For both strips 83 and 84 I preferably provide means for convenient replacement and since the means that I employ are preferably substantially identical, it will suffice to describe only one of them in detail.

Thus, considering first the tool strip 84 and referring rst to Figures 5 and 6, upper frame part 8|av is preferably in the form of an open foursided structure within which is a U-shaped frame or roll carriage in the outer ends of whose arms is releasably mounted a pin 85 on which is supported the supply roll 81 of the strip material 84. From the supply roll 81 the strip material passes over a suitably rounded edge of one side 8| f of the upper frame 8IfL being pressed against the inside edge or face of part 8If by the crosspiece 85a of the roll carriage which is pivotally connected to the frame part 8|a by a pin 88 suitably supported in appropriate opposed ear-like extensions of the upper frame part 8Ia.

Preferably, the force with which the strip material 84 is gripped between the parts 85a and 8U (Figure 6) is adjustable and a suitable arrangement for that purpose may comprise a helical spring 98 about the pin 88, the ends of the spring 98 being suitably anchored to b-ias the roll carriage or frame 85 in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, thus to aid the factor of Weight of the roll carriage in pressing the carriage part 85a toward the frame part 8|f.

Preferably one end of vthe spring 9S isr hooked or secured to roll carriage 85 and the other is anchored to the pin 488, the latter having (Figure 5) a toothed member 9|, like a ratchet or gear, with which coacts a pawl 92 for holding the pin-88 in whatever rotary position it has been turned for adjustment of the tension of the spring S0, the outer end of pin 38 being suitably shaped for engagement by a too1, such as a wrench or screw driver for making the just described adjustment.

Thus, the parts 85a and tlf (Figure 6) dependably grip the 'tool strip 84 4at its upper portion, whence it extends downwardly and vertically (see Figure 3) over the outermost of a pair of parallel fluted rollers S3 and thence in between the rollers to be tightly gripped and held therebetween, rollers 93 being mounted in the lower frame part SIb.

The tool strip-83 is served from a supply roll 94 (Figure 2) carried vin a U-shaped frame 95 substantially like the frame 85 of Figure 5 and 6 and similarly pivotally mounted but in the lower frame part SIC, and similarly spring biased in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, to grip the strip material between-part of the frame 96 and a part 8|g of the lower frame part 8|b, whence the strip material extends upwardly to be gripped between two parallel uted rollers 91 suitably Vmounted in ear-like extensions of the upper fra-me part 8|a (Figures 2, 5 and 6), one of the rollers 91 having a toothed part 93 like a gear or ratchet with which coacts a pawl whereby the roller is held in whatever position of rotary adjustment is given it as by a tool, such as a screw driver or wrench, the endmost portion of the shaft of the roller adjacent the ratchet 98 being suitably shaped to be engaged by such a tool. The mounting and arrangement of the pair of rollers 93 (Figure 3) for the 'tool strip 84, in the lower frame member SIb, may be substantially the same as the above-described mounting and holding arrangement of rollers 91 (see Figures and 6).

By such a preferred arrangement, therefore, as the material of the strips B3 and 84 becomes spent by its operation upon the hat body, both strip materials may be advanced throughout suitable lengths to present new or unused portions of the strip material for action upon the hat body. Also, it will be noted that the supply rolls of the luring material may be readily replenished.

The tool frame structure 8|, in the above-described illustrative form, thus presents two faces of luring material 83 and 84, each substantially vertical and the two making an angle of substantially 90 to each other; between the upper and lower frame parts 8|a and 8|b and in the angle thus formed by the luring strips 83 and 84, I provide a suitable means for heating the luring tools to a suitable temperature and preferably and conveniently I employ an electric heater element 0| (Figures 2 and 3) of any suitable construction, mounted as by a bracket |02 secured to the upright frame part BIC so as to be positioned substantially to the rear of the operative portion of the luring strip 83 and substantially similarly positioned with respect to the companion luring strip 31|; preferably I employ ya reflector |63 of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, and preferably also carried by the mounting bracket |02 to extend about so much of the heater element ill as faces away from the luring strips 83, 84, and thereby to reflect and direct heat toward and onto both strips without material loss. Where the luring stripsSS, 84 are made of a material like glass fiber, as in the preferred form labove described, the material is noninflarnmable and, moreover, can withstand operating temperatures materially greater, where desired, than it has heretofore been possible to employ in the luring of hat bodies. In luring hat bodies the latter have applied to them in `any suitable way substances which, under the action of heat and the polishing effect of the luring cloth, contribute to the desired polish or sheen imparted to the felt and the fibers thereof and aid also in laying the fibers down uniformly in the desired direction or directions. Substances heretofore employed for this purpose have been limited in composition and in character of result, largely due to the relatively low temperatures of operation imposed by the use of inflammable luring materials but by the employment of glass ber or similar mineral ber cloth luring may be carried on at higher temperatures `and a wider range of choice of materials to apply to the hat bodies prior to the luring is made available.

From the heater element |8| suitable flexible conductors |84, |05 lead to any suitable source of electrical energy but preferably I make provision for varying the energy supplied to the heater element IQ! and for thereby controlling its heating effect upon the luring tools.

A convenient and preferred arrangement may comprise a control device, such as a switch, generally indicated at ||J in Figures 3, 4 and 1, having an operating member Ill'l which in one position gives maximum flow of energy to the heater element lill and hence maximum heating effect and which in another position cuts down the flow of energy and correspondingly diminishes the heating effect.

For example, I may employ a power circuit (Figure 4) of the three-wire type having therefore three conductors |03, |539 and |||J with the voltage across conductors |38 and |||l being 220 volts and the voltage across any other pair being 110 volts. In such case, the heater element |0| has characteristics to suit it for maximum heat energization when energized at 220 volts, and accordingly I arrange control device or switch |96 so that in one position of its operating part |01 the circuit IBA- |05 of heater ||3| is connected across conductors |98 and H0 and hence energized by a current of 220 volts while in its other position switch I connects the circuit Hifi-|05 across a 11G-volt pair of the circuit conductors, such as conductors IBB-|09; in the former case maximum heating effect is achieved and in the latter a lesser heating effect results. A possible switch and circuit arrangement of this character is diagrammatically shown in Figure 4.

Switch structure |06 I preferably place under the control of a peripheral cam (Figures 1 and 3) on the cam shaft 28 with which one arm of a bell crank lever ||2 is in engagement, lever |2 being pivoted as at H3 to a suitable point on the frame 25, while switch is suitably mounted on the frame to position its movable or operating member lill appropriately for actution by the free arm of the lever |92, preferably as by an adjustable threaded stud il@ threaded into the lever ||2.

Cam as seen in Figure 3', therefore has several portions corresponding to two different radii for correspondingly holding the adjustable operating stud |I4 and hence the switch-operating member Ill'l, in coaction with a suitable spring operating upon the latter, in either lowermost position for maximum heating effect or upper position for lesser heating effect.

With a hat body I5 carried and rotated by shaft II and by the latter presented in operating position, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a control member ||5 for clutch 33-32 is actuated, thus connecting the cam shaft 28 to the driven worm wheel 34 to commence rotary movement of the shaft 28 and its cams throughout a single revolution, the clutch being disengaged at the conclusion of the desired 360 rotary movement preferably automatically and in an illustrative manner later described. At the moment of commencement of the drive of the cam shaft, arm 42 finds itself in substantially the position shown in Figure 1, at `substantially its extreme limit of swing in counter-clockwise direction, due to cam follower 58 (Figure 2) being in engagement with that portion of the cam 5| that is of minimum radius; cam follower 'I8 (Figure 2), however, is preferably in engagement with such a portion of cam as will give the cam 68 (Figure 1) such a position that the tool frame 8|, with lure strip 83 facing toward the tip of the crown of the hat body, is spaced somewhat to the left of the position shown in Figure 1, such spacing being achieved by the action of cam 68, in its just mentioned position, limiting the swing of tool-carrying arm 58 in clockwise direction to a corresponding extent. Thereby, by this spaced or withdrawn position of the tool frame 8|, the tool frame is held in an out-ofthe-Way position with respect to the movement or positioning ofthe hat body into the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The various positions of the various parts, as just described, are virtually their positions of rest also; at the same time cam I is in such a position that, through its follower bell crank I I2 (Figure 3), switch |06 conditions the circuit of heater element IDI for low energization and hence in the arrangement of Figure 4 for energization from a 11G-volt pair of power circuit conductors, cam III permitting the switch member |01 to assume its uppermost position for that purpose. During positions of rest, therefore, and hence with the luring tool 83 out of contact with the hat body, a lesser supply of energy flows to the heater IUI and preferably sufficient simply to maintain the luring tools at or near the desired operating temperature As the cam shaft 28 commences to rotate, cam 'H (Figure 2) moves its high or long radius portion, which is relatively short peripherally, out of engagement with the cam follower 18, thus, through the bell crank lever 'I6-1B, the rack bar 12 and rack 1| and pinion l0, to swing the cam 58 to move its high or long radius portion out of engagement with the arm 58 (see Figure l), thus .permitting spring 60 to swing arm 58 in .clockwise direction relative to arm 42 and thus to bring lure sheet or tool 83 flatwise into engagement with the tip T of the rotating hat body I5 (Figures 2 and 3), the lure stri-p 83 being pressed against the hat by the full force of the action of spring |58. Spring 89 (Figure l) is of sufficient tension or strength to poise or hold the tool frame 8|, during the above-described action, in such a -position about the axis of its pivoting stud 8|e (Figure 3) relative to the arm 58 as to hold the lure strip 83 with its plane substantially parallel to the plane of the top or tip T of the hat, thereby insuring flatwise engagement of the lure cloth B3 with the tipY T of the hat body.

The luring action thus proceeds, the increased energy supply to the heater element IUI insuring the supply of sufficient heat to the lure cloth 83 and to the portions of the hat body with which it engages to achieve the luring action at the desired temperature. A superior luring action results, particularly if, as in the preferred form, the luring tool 83 is made of glass ber cloth. The latter, I have found, has a greatly improved .polishing action on the felt of the hat body, and due to its capacity to -withstand Vhigh temperatures, luring may be carried out at higher temperatures than has heretofore been possible.

But the continued rotation of the cam shaft 28 causes other ,portions of cam 5| to become effective upon the cam follower 50, moving the latter and the rack bar 45 to the left, as viewed in Figures l and 2, and thus effecting a rotary movement, through rack 44 .and 'pinion 43, of the arm 42, swinging the latter in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, thereby displacing the tool frame 8| with its lure tool 83 more and more toward the square of the hat, thence about the square of the hat, and to the side S of the hat, all while the hat body is rotating, and causing .also a steady traverse of the luring tool 83 in a direction toward the brim B of the hat. During this swinging movement of the arm 42 in clockwise direction (Figure l) to traverse or shift the tool 83 from the tip toward and over the square of the hat and thence along the side of the hat toward the brim, arm 58 may vary its angular relationship to the arm 42 and tool frame 8| may vary its angular relationship about the axis of the pivoting stud SIe, all according to the configuration or curvature of the ,particular -portion of the hat crown C with which the luring tool 83 is in engagement under the yielding pressure of spring 6i), the articulated and yielding connections bein-g such as permit the tool frame 8| always to assume such `a ,position that the luring tool 83 is always substantially tangential to whatever portion of the crown C that it happens to be in engagement with. Also, Where the crown C is oval, the just described structural arrangements permit the tool frame 8| and the luring cloth 83 to assume .positions of various lengths of radial distances from the axis of rotation of the hat, according to the degree or extent of oval of the hat crown.

By the time that the arm 42 (Figure 1) has swung in clockwise direction sufficiently to bring the lure tool 83 with its one vertical edge substantially closely adjacent to the brim B, the tool frame 8| will have partaken, with the shape of hat shown in Figures 2 and 3, of substantially a turn in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, about its pivoting stud 8|e, thus bringing the companion lure strip or tool 84 into parallelism with the plane of the brim B, the traverse of lure tool 83 along the side S of the hat crown being of sufficient extent in a direction toward the brim B to bring the lure tool 84 into engagement iatwise with the lefthand face of brim B, as viewed in Figure 2, the lure strip 84 being preferably of a width equal to or greater than the radial dimension of the brim B. Lure tool 84, being kept in heated condition by the heater element IUI, is now positioned and is in readiness to effect a luring operation upon the above-mentioned side or face of the brim B.

But b-y the time lure tool 84 is brought into engagement with the just stated face of the brim B, termed the upper side of the brim, I bring into juxtaposition thereto but on the other or under side of the brim B a luring tool or strip ||6 preferably made of a material like the luring tools 83 and 84 above described.

Lure cloth or strip H (see Figures l and 3) is carried by a suitable frame structure IIT mounted upon the end of an arm ||8 that is pivotally mounted by a stud shaft at the right-hand end of the frame 25, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, thus to be swingable in a vertical plane transverse to the axis of rotation of the hat l5.

Lure cloth H8 is, like lure strips 83, 84, preferably in strip form, being led off of a supply roll |2| thereof, thence about the lower edge of the frame over the front face of a pad |22,\pref erably of any suitable yielding material, thence over the upper edge of frame |I'| where it passes through a pair of flutted feed rollers |23 mounted, supported and adjusted in the frame in a manner substantially the same as rollers 91 of Figure 5. The supply roll |2| is carried on a pin |24 in a roll carriage or frame |25 pivotally supported in the frame by a shaft |26 and having a cross-piece |25a that presses and holds the strip material I6 against a part of the frame under the action of an adjustable spring |2`|. By this arrangement, therefore, the feed rollers |23 may be rotated as by a wrench or screw driver to advance a sufficient length of the luring strip to bring afresh portion of the material over the front face of the pad-like support |22, the action and operation being generally the same as was above-described in connection with the luring strips 83 and 84.

During the time of traverse of the lure frame 8| from the tip of the crown to the brim, as above described,` the under brim luring tool H5 preferably remains out of operative relation to the under face of the brim B, and this I preferably achieve by holding the luring tool supporting arm iB in a correspondingly suitable rposition, illustratively in a position substantially horizontal, as shown in Figure l, that being the position of rest of the luring tool H5; when luring tool 84 is about to engage the upper face of the brim B, under-brim luring tool l5 is brought into operative position, by swinging the arm ||8 upwardly into substantially the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Control of the arm i8, in timed relation to the movement of other parts, as above described, I preferably achieve from the cam shaft 28, by way of a cam structure ||3| (Figures l and 2) on the cam shaft 23. Cooperating with this cam structure is a cam roller or follower |32 mounted in the bifurcated end of a lever |33 whose lower end is secured to one end of a shaft |34that extends lengthwise of the frame 25 and is suitably journaled therein. The other end of shaft |34 has secured to it an arm |35 whose free end is connected to lure-carrying arm ||8 by a link |36 preferably of adjustable length as by a trunbuckle |31 (Figure l).

The cam structure I30| 3| comprises in effect a disk |30 substantially plane throughout a substantial portion of its side face excepting for the cam portion 3| (Figures 1 and 2). The relationship of the various parts is preferably such that the range of swing of the arm I8 and of the tool structure carried at its end is preferably always to one side of the vertical plane through the axis of its supporting stud |20, and hence the weight of these swingable parts is always effec--v tive, through the connecting linkages, to press the cam follower |32 against the side face of the cam structure |3-|'3|, thereby insuring change in position of arm ||8 and its luring tool ||6 in accordance with the cam structure itself.

During the time that the tool frame 8| traverses from the tip of the crown to the brim,

a portion of the flat face of cam disk |30 isv traversed or rotated relative to the cam follower |32, thus leaving arm ||8 and tool ||6 in their lowermost position.

While in such lowermost and substantially.

horizontal position, luring tool i6 is held juxtaposed to a heater element |40 suitablyI mount'- ed in a lateral extension 25a (Figures 1 and 3) of the frame 25 and provided with a reector |4| to direct its heat on to the front face of the. luring tool H6, thus heating the latter and in effect storing heat into it and its backingv pad, |22, so that when swung upwardly into engagement with the under face of brim B, it will have a sufficient heat content for coaction upon the hat and with the companion luring tool 84. Just about the time that the luring tool S4 is to be brought into engagement with the upper face of brim B, the cam portion |3| cornes into action upon the cam follower |32 to swing the arm ||8 upwardly about its stud |20, the swing being completed to bring the now adequately heated luring tool ||6 into engagement with the underv face of the brim B just about concurrently with the engagement of luring tool 84 with the upper face of brim B. Luring tool H6 thus also forms a suitable backing or support for the brim B' against which the luring tool 84 continues to'be pressed by the action of spring 65, as the brim is traversed between the two tools ||6 and'84 during the continued rotation of the hat body.

Luringof the brim on both sides thuscontinues, whence, substantially simultaneously, cam l5| (Figure 2) permits movement of cam follower to take place in a direction toward the right under the action of spring 54 and cam part |3`| of the:

cam structure |30|3| is rotated to a point where cam follower |32 rides off of it and onto the disk part |33; by the former action and through the corresponding linkages or mechanisms between the cam follower 50 and the arm 42, the latter commences to swing in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, to cause first the withdrawal of the luring tool 84 from the upper face of the brim Band thento cause the luring tool 83 in effect to retrace its path of traverse and hence move along the side S of the crown, about the square of the hat and ultimately back to the tip T, to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, spring 60 during all this time applying sufficient force yto press the heated luring tool 83 against the hat body. As the luring tool 84 is withdrawn from the upper face of brim B, the transition of engagement of cam follower |32 (Figure l) from the cam part |3| to the disk part |30 effects a' swinging, downwardly, of the arm 8 and the luring tool ||5 again to resume the substantially horizontal position of rest earlier above described, whence it becomes juxtaposed again to the heater |40 to become heated thereby for its next cycle of operation. 4

Depending upon the action or results desired to be achieved on the hat brim, the latter may also', during such operations as are described above, have in action on the brim and preferably also on both sides additional or other tools or if desired the motions of the two above-described luring tools 84 and H6 may be omitted, and in view of the relative movement, as later described in detail, between the bed I9 with the hat-supporting and rotating devices carried th'ereby and the mechanism or machine related to the base or frame 25, I may provide two suitably spaced and relatively stationary tools for operating upon the respective faces of the brim, effecting interrelation therebetween and the hat brim by the just stated relative movement. Thus, referring to Figures 2, 3 and 1G, I may provide two tools generally indicated by thereference characters |45 and |46 positioned with their operating faces facing toward each other and with the plane of th'e two faces or the median plane therebetween (depending upon the magnitude of spacing therebetween) in line with the plane or path of a suitable portion, such as the upper portion, of the brim B, so that, when such relative movement takes place, as is later described in detail, the brim and the two opposed tools become operatively related to each other and upon a subsequent relative movement become disassociated from each other. In Figures 2, 3 and 10 the two tools |45, |46 and the hat brim B are shown in operative relation; relative movement therebetween in the general direction of the plane of the brim, illustratively as by giving the bed i9 a rotary movement, as viewed in Figure 10, effects bringing the hat brim into or out of operative relation to the two tools.

Tools |45, |46 are preferably mounted in juxtaposition to each other upon the inner faces of two preferably parallel arms |41, |48 of a yoke or inverted U-shaped member |50 (Figure 2) being of sufficient vertical extent to accommodate tools likewise of sumcient vertical extent to engage the full radial dimension of the brim B as the hat body rotates.

Yoke |50 is preferably mounted for movement toward and away from the axis of' rotation of the hat body and for this purpose and illustratively the yoke |50 (see Figures lOand 1l) has an arm preferably integral therewith, arm |5| being pivoted at its outer end on a stud or pin |52 which is suitably fixed in the upper end of an upright bracket or column |53 which at its lower end is suitably secured to the frame 25.

Column |53 is provided with a stop in the form of an upwardly extending lug |54 and shaped to be juxtaposed to lug |54 is a lug |55 on the arm |5|; lug |55 has threaded into it a stop screw |55 which may be locked in adjusted position by lock nut |51, thereby to adjust the permissible swing in counter-clockwise direction and downward movement of the yoke |56 with its two tools, as, for example, in the absence of a hat body to be operated upon.

Arm |41 of yoke |56 has secured to it, as at |58, a shoe |65 of suitable width to rest against the band portion of the crown C of the hat (see Figure 2), being made of metal preferably highly polished. It is elongated, as shown in Figure 11, preferably to a substantial extent in a direction toward the left, as at |662, and preferably also curved upwardly. At its right-hand end it is also preferably curved upwardly as at |661.

Thus, with a hat body and block out of operative relation to the operating tools, the two tools |45, |56 and their carrying yoke |56 assume a position of rest somewhat downwardly of the position shown in Figure 11 and to the extent permitted by the adjustable stop |56 and the xed stop |54. As movement takes place to operatively relate the hat body and the tools, the arm |8, as later described, being then in substantially horizontal position, and th'us with its tools out of the` Way, and tools 83 and 84 being substantially in the position shown in Figure 1 and likewise also out of the way, and such movement preferably is a movement of the hat body in a direction to the right, as viewed in Figure 11, and into the full line position as there shown, the band portion of the crown C engages in under the upwardly curved end |69a of the guide or shoe |60 while th'e brim B enters in between the two tools |45, |45. As the hat body continues to move toward the right to its full line position in Figure 11, the tool-carrying frame |50 is cammed upwardly and thus proper entry into operative relationship between the tools and the brim is assured.

As the hat body continues to rotate about its axis, the weight of the tool frame |56 maintains engagement of shoe ISE! with the side of the hat crown C and, regardless of the width of the brim or of variations in the radius of the crown or of the brim, insures that the tools operative throughout the entire width of the brim. Where the hat body is oval, these actions dependably take place. the tool frame or yoke |56 partaking of a cyclic up and down movement as the oval hat body rotates.

Upon completion of the operation, whence relative movement again takes place in a direction to disassociate hat body and tools, the shoe |66 again acts as a cam to assure nicety of disen-k gagement between tools a'nd brim. Preferably, this movement is a continued movement of the hat body toward the right, as viewed in Figure l1, and in such case the other curved end lb of the shoe |66 functions to let the hat body cam itself out of relationship with the tools, the tool frame |56 being by that action cammed downwardly or in counter-clockwise direction, again to assume a position of rest in a lowermost position, as determined by the stops |54, |56.

Preferably` the hat body is maintained in rotation not only While the tools are operating upon the hat body or its parts but also during movements to bring the hat body and the tools both into and out of operative relation to each other, thus insuring also nicety of entry of hat brim in between the two tools |45 and |46 and nicety of exit movement.

The two tools |45, |46 may be of any suitable character or construction according to the action desired upon the brim. Thus, for example, where tools 84 and ||6 are present in the form of luring tools to operate on the two faces of the brim BI tools |45 and |45 may be in the form of brushes, the bristles of which are of suitable texture and where in the form of brushes the bristles are preferably relatively long and are arranged to slope toward each other, as better appears in Figure 10, and in such case it is preferred that the inner faces 0f the arms |41, |48, preferably provided with T-slots, as better appears in Figure l0, for the reception of the backs or supports of the brushes, are at an angle to each other, forming virtually a dihedral angle, thus to bring the bristles` of the brushes likewise at an angle to each other, into the apex of which the hat brim moves as the vbrim and tools are brought into operative relation to each other.

The tools |45, |45 may also be provided with heater elements, such as electric heater units |6|, |62, respectively (Figure 10) suitably supported in bracket-like extensions |41e and |48a of the yoke arms |41 and |43 (Figures l0 and 11). Depending upon various factors, such as the nature of the tools employed or, according to desire,

these heater elements may be arranged to direct-- their heat on the tools or onto the hat brimv or on,bothand illustratively I have shown them as provided with reectors |83 and |84, respectively,V positioned to reflect the radiant heat therefrom onto the brim faces and thus to protect-the brush bristles against becoming overheated. The heater elements maybe co-nnected inparallel, as is better shown in Figure 3, and by conductors |85 and |85 may be connected to the circuit conductors |88, |89 to be energized therefrom.

Asis better shown in Figure 10, the extended portion |59*EL of the shoe Iis preferably made in as small dimension horizontally asv possible so as to present as little obstruction as possible to the lure tool 83 (Figure 2) when the latter reaches or approaches the end of that stroke of its traversing movement that brings it edgewise adjacent the upper face of the brim B.

As above indicated, I prefer to effect the relative movement between the rotatably supported hat body or hat bodies and the machine or machines to operate upon them, for bringing them into or out of operative relationship to each other, by effecting a step-by-step rotary movement of the bed I9, thus to present any one hat body rotatably carried thereby successively to any desired number of machines or hat operating mechanisms, of which the above described machine may be considered one. Thus, the bed I9 may be mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, in any suitable way; thus, it may be integrally formed at its under part to provide a cylindrical boss |18 having a concentric reduced portion extending downwardly in the form of a heavy shaft I'II journaled appropriately, as in a suitably heavy central base or Support |12, for rotation, suitable provision being made, as by thrust bearings, and the like, for the base to take up the weight of the rotary bed I9 and the parts carried by it.

As appears better from Figures 1, 10 and 11, the selected number of frames I8, each carrying a shaft I1 with a chuck 28, are preferably grouped about the axis of rotation of the bed I9, with the axes of the shafts I1 extending radially of the rotary bed I9 and also and preferably equiangularly spaced about the axis of rotation; thus, the angular spacing between any two successive hat block supporting shafts I1 may be, as indicated in these figures, 45, so that, for example, eight frames I8 with hat-supporting chucks may be carried by the bed I9.

The under face of the bed I9, as viewed in Figure 12 and as better shown in Figure 13, is provided with as many radial slots |13 as there are hat supports, and they are correspondingly equiangularly spaced, being open-ended peripherally of the bed I9. Preferably, also, the under Ycomplete cycle of operations.

at the `top and the bottom of the case |15, and at its upper end shaft |18 has keyed to it a hub |11 that has-preferably integrally formed with it a segment-shaped part |18 and a crank arm|19 angularly related to each other, as is better shown in Figure 13. l

Crank arm |19 carries at its outer end a roller |80 journaled on a suitable stud I8I. These parts and the above-described slots and. recesses of the bed I9 are so proportioned and related to each other, as is better shown in Figure 13, so that, with the crank |19 and segment |18 at rest in the dotted line position shown in Figure 13, a sufficient portion of the arcuate periphery of member |18 is mated with the recess |14 to act as a lock to hold the bed I9 against rotary movement. But upon shaft |18 commencing to rotate in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 13, roller |88 moves into position to enter slot I 13, thereby also effecting a sufficient rotary displacement of the part |18 relative to the recess |14 as to break the above-mentioned locking action and free the bed I9 for rotary movement in counterclockwise direction. Continued rotation of shaft |18 venters the roller |88 further into the slot |13, commencing the rotary movement of bed I9 and continuing it until roller |80 is ready to emerge from that slot |13, thereby effecting a 45 rotary movement of bed I9. But these same actions 'have been effective to enter the segment-shaped part |18 into the next succeeding arcuate recess |14, thus effecting a new locking relation between the member |18 and the bed I9 and holding the latter against rotation. That side or edge of the segment-shaped part |18 that faces toward the roller |89 is, furthermore, shaped, somewhat as indicated in Figure 13, so as not to interfere with the rotary movement of the bed I9 and so as to permit the peripheral parts of the bed I9 and the part |18 to by-pass each other during the stroke of rotary movement of the bed I9.

Suitable means are provided for effecting cyclic or periodic actuation of the just described bedadvancing means and actuation of the hat-operatingmachine and its tools, all in proper timed relationship and in the preferred arrangement the above-described clutch 32--33 (Figure 1) related as above-described to the main shaft 28 takes part. As above pointed out, this clutch con- Astruction is preferably constructed, and controlled, to cause it to effect rotation of the main shaft 28, for example throughout one revolution, suiiicient to put the various tools and mechanisms operating upon the hat body through one To better understand and to illustrate one form which this clutch may be given, reference may now be made to Figures 8 and 9, and also to Figure 17 where certain parts of the clutch structure are shown scheface of the bed I9 is provided with arcuate cutv outs or recesses |14, one between each successive two open-ended slots |13.

Coacting with these slots and recesses I provide suitable mechanism for effecting periodic rotary movements of the bed I9 throughout an angle of 45 where there are eight hat-supporting frames I8, and for locking and holding the bed in position for a suitable time interval following each rotary movement.

Thus, extending upwardly from a suitable case |15 (Figures l2, 15 and 17) underneath the rotary bed I9 and With which the bearing support |12 may be mechanically associated, is a shaft |16, being provided with suitable bearings, both -I85, |88 there is pivotally connected to it a collar or ring-like member |81 connected to the movable clutch part 32. This latter connection may be arranged as shown in Figure 8 where the connection is `effected preferably by means of a comfbined radial and thrust antifriction bearing |98 whose outer race is fitted and secured within the ring-|81 and whose inner face is fitted or secured to a hub portion of the clutch part 32. Thus, clutch part 32 may freely rotate relative to the fring' |81 and by yactuation of the latter through the lever |83 the clutch part may be moved axially into or out of engagement with the clutch part 33, part 32 being splined to shaft 20 as at Also rotatable with the clutch part 32 is a cam member generally indicated at |9| having a peripheral cam portion |92 for coaction with one end of a latch member |93 and its side face, having a recess |94, functions with the latter also as a cam for coaction with the left-hand end of a lever |95 which is held. in the position shown in Figure 9 by the said face but whose end may enter the recess |94 when the latter becomes juxtaposed to it, thus to shift the position of the lever |95.

Lever |95 is pivoted by a stu-d or pin |90 to a fixed or stationary bracket or part |91 carried by the frame 25 and latch member |03 is also pivoted in part |91 as by the stud or pin |99,

being biased to swing in counter-clockwise direction by a spring 200. The right-hand end of lever |95 is connected with the lever |33 by a pivotal connection 20| preferably adjustable and carried in a lug extension of lever |83 as an adjustable stop 202 with which the latch |93 may be selectively engaged, either by its extreme end portion |93"L or by a notch |93b.

The left-hand end of lever |83 is pivoted in a block `203 which is slidably mounted in suitable ways 204 formed in a bracket-like part 295 carried by the frame 25 (see Figures 1 and 8). Block 203 is biased toward the frame 25V by a spring 200 interposed between the block and an adjustable abutment 201 by which the resistance to movement in outward direction of the block 203 may be adjusted.

In Figure 8 clutch parts 32 and 33 are shown in engagement, thus effecting drive of the operating or cam shaft 28 from lthe motor driven worm. wheel 34 and clutch part 33, through the clutch part 32. Its cycle yof. operati-ons is substantially like this:-When the clutch is disengaged, latch |93 is in a position where its notch |93b engages the stop 202 and lever |95 has its end |95a engaged in the recess |94 in the side face of the cam member |9|, the fulcrum block 203 of control lever |83 being, under the urge of spring 293, in its innermost or bottoming position in the ways 204 of bracket 205. To engage the clutch lever |83 is swung in clockwise direction, thus tending to move the clutch part 32 into engagement with the driving clutch part 33, but should the juxtaposed toothed members of these parts be out of alinement at that moment, spring 20G yields and fulcrum block 203 slides outwardly along the ways 204; this swinging of the lever |33 also swings the lock lever |95 clockwise to withdraw its end |95a from the recess |94, thus unlocking the otherwise locked clutch part 32, and stop 202 is moved out of engagement with the notch |93b and becomes latched by the end latch portion |93a which is swung into latching position by the spring 209. An angular rotary movement approximating the width of a tooth suffices to bring the teeth of the driving clutch part 33 into mating relation with the teeth on the movable clutch part 32, the latter moving axially to achieve such interengagement, now under the action of spring 209 which thrusts the fulcrum block 293 and hence the left-hand end of lever |03 in a direction to achieve such interengagement. The rotation and drive of shaft 29 and the parts related to it as above-described. thus commence, whence disengagement of the clutch can take place only when recess |94 is againV brought opposite lock-lever part 2952.

Prior to the end of the desired extent of rotary movement, say 360, the cam part |92, shaped substantially as is better shown in Figure 8, rides into engagement with ythe short arm of the latch |93 and swings the latch clockwise to trip the latch part |93a out of engagement with the lever stop 202; subsequently recess |94 comes opposite lock-lever |95a and thus permits lever |33 to swing in counter-clockwise direction to dsengage the clutch part 32 from clutch part 33 and to become engaged through its st-op 292, with the notch 1931C of the latch |93; while -this is taking place, the movement of lever |83 in clutchdisengaging direction, also moves the lever |95 in counter-clockwise direction to enter its end |95a into the side face recess |94 of the movable clutch unit 32|9|, thus locking that unit and shaft 28 inhalted position, and in readiness for a repetition of the cycle.

As is better shown in Figure 17, I prefer to achieve actuation of lever |03 in clutch-engaging direction by electromagnetic means which may comprise a solenoid winding 2|0 and a movable core 2|| having connected to it an actuating bar 2|2 provided with an elongated notch 2|3 for engaging a suitable end or lug portion of the lever |03, bar 2|2 being preferably pivotally connected to the core 2|| for better permitting a spring 2|4 to bias the bar 2|2 into engagement with the lever |83.

Bar 2|2 I preferably also arrange to be tripped out of engagement with the lever |83, thus to permit movement thereof that accompanies disengagement of the clutch, and for this purpose I preferably employ a cam 2|5 (Figure 17) mounted on the shaft 28 and having related to it and suitably guided for sliding movement a cam follower 2|3 with the end of which the operating bar 212 may engage. Cam 2 5 is suitably shaped to shift the operating bar 2|2 toward the right or in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 17, just about concurrently with the tripping of the latch |93 by the cam |92 (Figure 8) to effect disengagement of the clutch, so that certainty of clutch disengagement is assured, a spring |38 (Figure 17) shifting the lever finally to disengage the clutch parts.

Preferably, also, I provide a switch 2|1. (Figure 17) arranged to be actuated in timed relation with clutch engagement and clutch disengagement and for that purpose the switch 211 may be connected as by a link 2|9 to the lever |95 for actuation into open or closed position according to the position assumed by the lever |95. And preferably, also, shaft 28 is provided with another cam 220 which through a spring biasing follower 22| controls the position of a switch 222, for a purpose later described in greater detail.

Referring now again to Figures 12 and 17, shaft |10, which drives the bed-advancing and locking parts and |18 (Figure 13) is arranged to be driven preferably by means of an electric motor 225, preferably positioned externally of the casing |15, the drive beingeifected preferably through a clutch comprising clutch parts 226 and 221 (Figure 17). Thus, the shaft 228 of motor 225 may extend into the casing |12 by way of a suitable bearing, as shown, and on its end has mounted the clutch part 221 which, where the clutch is of the cone type, is in the form of the cup-like part of the clutch. The companion clutch part, being the cone 226, is splined onto a shaft 230 rotatably mounted within the casing preferably by a bearing structure 23| which may be formed in or supported by an internal pillar of the casing |15 and by an end bearing 232 through which one end of the shaft extends externally of the casing |15 where it has mounted on it a brake drum 233. The other end of shaft 236 preferably extends, as shown in Figure 17, into the cup 221, thus giving it some bearing support and also aiding in maintaining coaxial alinement between the two clutch parts.

Clutch part 226 is arranged to be shifted into or out of engagement with its companion clutch part 221 and such an arrangement may comprise a collar 234 suitably held against axial movement relative to the clutch part 226 but to permit relative rotary motion therebetween, collar 232 being pivotally connected as by suitable trunnions to lthe yoke portion of a lever 235, one

end of which is pivoted to a fulcrum block 236y slidably guided in suitable guides 231 provided within the casing |15 and biased by a spring 238 in a direction to tend to disengage movable clutch part 226 from the companion clutch part 221.

The other end of the lever is provided with an adjustable stop 246 for coaction with a movable abutment 24| which conveniently takes the form of a bell crank lever pivoted within the casing as by a shaft 252 and connected at one of its arms by a link 263 to the core 244 of an externally positioned solenoid having a winding 245. Accordingly, abutment 24| is movable into or out of operative relation to the stop 246. A spring 246 connected to clutch lever 235 and anchored within the casing |15 biases the lever in a. direction of clutch interengagement.

On shaft 236 (Figure 17) is a worm 250 which meshes with a worm wheel on the upright shaft |16, the latter actuating as above noted the bed-controlling and locking means |88 and |18 (Figure 13). Accordingly, with the motor 225 running, the drive of shaft |16 may be effected and halted during such time intervals as are determined by the engagement and disengagement of the clutch 226, 221.

As above described, fulcrum block 236 (Figure 17) is shiftable along the guide 231. Its position is preferably controlled, in coaction with the spring 23B, by a cam 252 within the casing |15 and mounted on the shaft |16, by way of a cam follower preferably taking the form of a bell crank lever 253 pivoted within the casing as at 254, one arm engaging the cam 252 and the other engaging the fulcrum block 236 through a menrber 255, such as a cap screw with lock nut, of adjustable length, spring 238 thus acting through the block 236 to urge and hold the cam follower 253 in engagement with the cam 252.

lThe various hat supporting chucks and shafts carried by the table I9, each, as earlier described, being arranged in a frame I8 (Figures 1 and 17, for example), are preferably continuously driven, each preferably by its own motor 251, suitably embodied into the frame |8 and suitably geared to the chuck shaft. The motors 251 of the frames IB on the movable bed |9 are for this purpose preferably connected in parallel, as by the circuit conductors 258 (Figures 1 and 17), which may be and preferably are three in number (according to the electrical characteristics of the motors) and for each circuit conductor there is provided, on the boss |18 that is at the under side of the bed I9, a suitably insulated slip ring 265), as is better shown in Figure 12, suitable brushes 26| (Figure 17) bearing against the slip ring 266 and connected to conductors 262, 263 and 264 that lead to the power circuit. Thus, electrical energy to the motors 251 may be continuously supplied.

Coacting with the bed I9 (Figure 17) is also a switch structure generally indicated by the reference character 265, comprising an actuating member like a rod 266 suitably guided as at 261 for movement in a direction along a radius to the center of the bed I9; at its end it is provided with a cam-like member 268 illustratively in the form of a half sphere for coaction with the cylindrical periphery |51a of the bed I5 and suitably spaced cam recesses 215, there being one cam recess 216 for each hat supporting structure |8 carried by the bed I9, illustratively eight, as above indicated, and being also equiangularly spaced about the bed periphery |921. A spring 21| urges the rod and its cam 268 in a direction toward the bed periphery |9. These parts are so located relative to the bed moving and locking mechanisms (Figures 13 and 14) that, when the bed I9 is brought to a halt, a cam recess 210 is brought into juxtaposition to the switch cam 268 which thus enters it and alters the circuit in which the contacts of the switch are connected. During movement of the bed I9, switch cam 268 being cammed out of a cam recess 216 at the commencement of such movement, is held in outwardly projected position by the bed periphery E9e, entering the next succeeding cam recess 210 when the movement stops.

Rod 266 of the bed-controlled switch structure 265 may control several circuits, illustratively two, having, therefore, two Contact bridging parts 212 and 213. The contacts associated with switch member 212 are connected to control the solenoid winding 2|8 (Figure 17) that controls the clutch 32, 33 of the hat-operating mechanism, and since the latter may be duplicated at other stations or such other stations may be provided with mechanisms performing other operations upon a hat body, such other mechanisms, therefore, preferably embody a duplication of the clutch and cam shaft arrangement shown in Figure 17, including the switches 2|1 and 222 and solenoid 2|8-2I Thus, where the bed |9 carries eight hat-supporting and rotating devices, hat-operating mechanisms may be variously arranged or grouped about the bed I9 according to the sequences of operations desired on the hat bodies or according to other circumstances. For example, with eight hat supports on the bed I9, each hat support progressing through eight successive stations or positions of rest during a single rotation of the bed |9 one station might be a discharge and loading station where hat bodies are replaced, and the remaining seven could have positioned thereat seven machines, including the luring machine above described for performing on the same hat body successive and usually different operations thereon. Or other arrangements might be made; thus, every other of the eight stations could be a loading or hat-replacing station and at each of the remaining stations the machine could be a luring machine like that above described, whereby four such machines could be simultaneously and synchronously operated. Or, the eight stations could be subdivided into groups, say two groups of four successive stations each, where the rst of each group is a loading or replacing station and at the next three stations are positioned three machines for performing different operations on the hat body, including the luring machine above described.

Because of various such possible arrangements, I have not shown in the drawings any one of them in detail and in Figure 17 I have Adiagrammatically indicated at 215 only one of such additional or other machines of a group or series of which the above described luring machine is, of course, one. Machine 215, as is the case of all of the machines related to the rotatable bed I9, has embodied in it, like the luring machine, an individual motor drive with a cam and operating shaft 28 and clutch, like the clutch 32-33 described above in detail, together with the related clutch and switch controls, such as those above described and shown at the left in Figure 17; to show certain features of interrelationship or of interdependence of all of the machines, I have, as to the diagrammatically shown machine 215, reproduced in Figure 17 only the solenoid winding 2|0b, the switch 2|1b, and switch 222| corresponding respectively to the parts 2| I, 2|1 and 222 related to the luring machine. A preferred circuit arrangement for interrelating the various parts is also shown diagrammatically in Figure 17.

Assuming that motor 225 (Figure 17) has just concluded the positioning of the bed I9 to advance the hat rotating devices thereon to the extent of one step, bed I9 becomes locked in that position, roller |80 assuming the dotted line position of Figure 13 and the segment part |18 locking the bed I9 due to its intertting with a recess |14;

clutch 226-221 (Figure 17) is disengaged, cam 252 and its follower 253 is in the position shown in Figure 17y and switch 212 of switch structure 265 is closed by the movement resulting from entry of cam 268 into recess 210.

Closure of switch 212 energizes solenoid winding 2li), solenoid winding ZIO", and also the similar solenoid windings on all of the other machines.

This energizing circuit extends from conductor 262, conductor 218, switch 212, conductor 211, conductor 218, solenoid 2|8, switch 280, and by way of conductor 28| to line 263 of the power circuit; by way of conductors 282 and 283 the clutch solenoids of all the remaining machines are connected in parallel to the clutch solenoid 2 I 0, each through `a hand switch, such as the switch 280, in the branch circuit of clutch solenoid 2 I 0b of machine 215.

Thus, the clutch solenoids of the various machines are all energized and each moves its operating bar 2 I 2 in a direction to move clutch lever |83 in clutch-engaging direction, whence clutch parts 33 and 32 become engaged in the manner above described, latch |93 holding the clutch lever |83, in coaction with spring 206, in clutchengaging position. Thus, all of the machines commence operation substantially simultaneously, the main control and cam shafts 28 of all of them starting to rotate at substantially the same time.

Should it be desired to maintain any one machine of the series or group out of operation, the switch in the clutch solenoid branch circuit, such as switch 288 or switch 280|?, is opened, thus preventing energization of the clutch solenoid of the corresponding machine.

With shaft 28 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) thus set into rotation, the various operations on the crown and two faces of the brim, as above described, now proceed, the luring tool 83 partaking of a traverse relative to the top T of the crown, thence about the square thereof, and thence along the side, partaking also of a shift to present luring tool 84 to the upper face of the brim B whence, all as earlier above described, arm ||8 is swung from its substantially horizontal position upwardly to present the luring tool ||5 to the under side of the brim B, substantially opposed to the tool 84 operating upon the upper face of the brim. During the continued rotation of the hat body the tools |45, |46 (Figures 2 and 10), illustratively in the form of brushes, are also operative upon the two faces of the brim B which has been presented therebetween upon the conclusion of the movement of the bed I9 into the above-mentioned position which effects closure of the clutch-solenoid controlling switch 212. These operations continue under the control of the shaft 28, all in the manner described in detail above, and by the time the shaft 28 has been brought to a halt, luring tool 84 has been withdrawn from the upper face of the brim and together with luring tool 83 has been restored to the starting position substantially as shown in Figure 1, while luring tool H6 under the control of arm ||8 has been moved downwardly and out of operative relation to the under face of the brim, thus clearing these tools away from the hat body and its hat-supporting and rotating means and thereby conditioning the latter for subsequent movement away from or out of operative relation to the luring machine; in this latter connection and as above pointed out, it will be noted that the two tools |45, |46 (Figures 2 and 10) are mounted in such position that their adjacent or juxtaposed operative surfaces lie in `the plane of general movement of the brim B of the hat so that even if these two tools are not given a movement to shift them away from the hat or its support, the hat brim is freely movable out of or into relationship to the two faces of the two tools, preferably, however, under the control of the guide shoe |50 (Figure 11), as above described.

Just prior to the tripping of the latch |93 and actuation of the lock lever |95 to disconnect the clutch and to halt the shaft 28, cam 2|5 (Figure 17) actuates cam follower 2|6 momentarily to swing the clutch-operating bar 2|2 in clockwise direction, thus to disengage bar 2|2 from lever |83, the continued energization of winding 2| 0 pulling the solenoid core and bar 2 I2 somewhat downwardly, thus to hold the upper end of the notch 2|3 below the upper edge of the end of lever |83 and thus freeing the latter for swinging in counter-clockwise direction when the clutch disengagement finally takes place under the control of latch |93 and lock lever |95.

Thus, the machine and operations on the hat body are brought to a halt and by similar actions at all the remaining machines of the groups or series, their operations are likewise brought to a halt.

But such actuation of the clutch into disengaged position, at each machine, has effected, through the swinging movement of the lock lever |95 as the latter moves to project its lock end |95il (Figures 8, 9 and 17) into the recess |94 of the movable clutch part 33, a movement of switch 2|1 (Figure 17) into circuit-closing position, a similar action taking place at the re maining machines, such as a closure of switch 2|1IU at the machine 215. When all these switches are closed, the energizing circuit of solenoid winding 245 (Figure 17) is closed through a circuit, as follows:

Thus, from line 283, conductor 285, winding 245i, conductor 286, switch 2|1, conductor 281, switch 2|1b, conductor 288 to the corresponding switches of such other machines as may be in the group or series, then conductor 299 to line 262.

Solenoid 244-245 which initiates the next step in the .advance of the bed I9 thus cannot become effective until all the machines, as determined by the switches '211, 2|1b, etc, are in readiness or are prepared for the next step of movement.

Any machine that is'cut out of the group or series preferably has its corresponding switch short-circuited as by a hand switch 292.

Energizaticn of solenoid 244-245 swings the member 24| in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 17, and hence in effect removes the support for the right-hand end of clutch lever 235 which thereupon swings clockwise under the pull of spring 245 to engage clutch parts 225, 221, thus initiating the drive of shaft |19 and of the crank arm |19 and segment member |13 (Figures 12, 13 and 1li), whence the shift of the bed I9 in counter-clockwise direction commences, thus causing switch cam 253 (Figure 17) to ride out of the cam recess 219 and to remain in engagement With the bed periphery |9a, thereby maintaining switches 212 and 213 opened, until the next succeeding cam recess 19 is brought to the switch cam 258.

With the opening of switch 212, the clutch solenoid winding 2li! becomes deenergized, permitting the solenoid core and operating bar 2|2 to move upwardly under the urge of suitable springs, such as spring 2|4 or spring 29|, 0r both,

this upward movement of bar 2|2 being suiiicientv to bring the upper edge of notch 2|3 above the end of clutch lever |83 which thus becomes engaged in the notch 2 I3 under the biasing action of spring 214 on the bar 2 I2, and thus preparing these parts for subsequent actuation of lever |83 by the clutch solenoid in clutch-engaging direction.

Shaft |15 (Figures 17, 13 and 14) rotates in clockwise direction to advance bed I9 throughout its intended extent, such as 45, such advance being halted by the withdrawal of crank roller from its slot |13 in the bed; cam 252 (Figure 17), during the latter portion of this advance of bed I9, swings and holds bell crank lever 253 in counter-clockwise direction, thus depressing the fulcrum block 238 along its guideway 231 and against the action of spring 238, thereby also raising the right-hand end of clutch lever 235 to prepare it for the return movement thereunder of the solenoid-controlled abutment 24|.

As the cam follower 298 of the switch structure 255 enters the cam recess 219 that is brought into juxtaposition to it at the end of the advance of bed I9, switch 212 closes, thus energizing the clutch solenoids 2|9, 2mb, etc., whence the cycle of operations to effect engagement of the clutches 32-33 in all of the machines recommences, thereby also effecting opening Vof the switches 2 I1, 2|1b, etc., and thus deenergizing winding 245 (Figure 17) and permitting member 24| to be swung in counter-clockwise direction under the urge of spring 293 to restore it to position underneath the right-hand end of clutch lever 235 which is still held in suitable or raised position by cam 252 and lever 253. Member 24| being thus restored, shaft |16, continuing its rotation in clockwise direction, moves the crank roller |89 to the dotted line or starting position shown in Figure 13 and moves also segment member |13 into locking relation to the newly positioned recess |14 in the bed I9, whence cam 252 (Figure 17) permits the cam follower 253 to drop off of the steepest part of the cam and to assume the position shown in Figure 17, thus permitting spring 239 to shift the fulcrum block 235 upwardly along its ways 231 and thus through clutch lever 235 to disengage clutch part 225 from the motor driven clutch part 221, these actions taking place just as shaft |16 is positioning the crank arm roller E85 at its starting point, `indicated in broken lines in Figure 13 and being accompanied by a braking action upon brake-drum 233 as is late-r described in detail.

During the above-described step of advance of the bed I9, the tools 93, 84 and H6 remain out of the way, as above described, the path being thus cleared for the movement of the hat body with its supporting and rotating means, out of operative relation to the machine and to replace the hat body by another carried in the next succeeding hat-supporting and rotating means on the bed i9. The hat body that is in course of removal from the machine or apparatus, moving toward the right as Viewed in Figure l1, cams itself, by engagement with the side of its crown with the curved part |69b of the shoe or guide |69 out from in under the tool-supporting frame |59, the brim B passing neatly out fromin between the two opposed tools |45, |45, these actions being aided by the continued rotation of the parts of the latter with which the shoe and the two opposed tools |45, |46 engage during this movement.

The next succeeding hat body, also moving toward the right, as viewed in Figure 11, cams itself into position, the rotary movement of the brim aiding in neatly entering it in between the two tools |45, |46 while the curved shoe extension |a coacts during this movement with the side of the rotating crown, all as earlier above described in detail.

The operations of the tools |45, |46 on the brim B of the hat may thus commence immediately that the hat becomes operatively related thereto; but, as above noted, the clutch-controlling solenoids are actuated to initiate again the operations of the various machines of the group or series, whence the cycle of operations above described is repeated.

Referring to Figures 15, 16 and 17, it will be noted that shaft 239, which is driven whenever clutch 22E-221 is in engagement, extends out of the casing |15 where it carries, as earlier noted, a brake drum 233; about brake drum 233 is a brake band 294, one end of which is adjustably anchored as at 295 (Figure 15) and the other end of which is secured to a threaded rod 295 whose upper end passes through a pin 291 carried in the bifurcated end of one arm of a bell cranklever 29B, a nut 359 at the upper end of threaded rod 295 serves with the adjustment at the anchorage 295 to suitably adjust the brake band to respond to actuation of bell crank lever 298.

Lever 258 is pivcted to swing about a horizontal axis provided by a stud or pin 39| suitably supported in a lug on the upper side of the casing |15 and by means of a universal type of pivotal connection 392 lever 298 (Figures 15 and 16) is pivotally connected to a link 3139 whose righthand end (Figure 15) is shaped to provide an elongated eye 394 extending transversely of the link 393 to receive therein one end of a level' arm 395 secured to the shaft 242 to which is secured, Within the casing |15, the abutment 24| (Figure 17) that coacts with the clutch lever 235, so that actuation of the abutment 24| by the solenoid 244-245 causes arm 305 to be similarly actuated. A spring 303 biases link 303 in clockwise' direction about the axis `of its left-hand pivotal connection and hence toward the upper end of a lever 301 pivoted externally on the upper side of casing as by stud 308 and whose lower end is provided with a cam follower in the form of a roller 3I0 to coact with a cam 3|| on the vertically extending shaft |15, a spring 3|2 biasing lever 301 in a direction to hold the roller 3I0 in engagement with the cam periphery of cam 3| I. The free end of lever 301 coacts with the link 303 which is provided with a notch or seat 3I3 with which lever 301 becomes engaged or disengaged according to the action of cam 3| I and the lever arm 305.

When solenoid winding 245 becomes deenergized, as above described, to permit abutment 24| to be moved in under the right-hand end of the clutch lever 235 (Figure 17), this taking place in the manner above described, arm 305 (Figure 15) moves in counter-clockwise direction and hence to the position shown in Figure 15, permitting link 303 under the urge of spring 306 to move clockwise into the position shown in Figure 15, thus positioning the notch 3 3 in the path of movement of the upper end of lever 301, the latter being held in a vposition displaced clockwise several degrees from that shown in Figure 15 due to the portion 3|Ia of the periphery of cam 3| I.

But as the shaft |16 approaches a position where the crank roller |80 is at the starting point (the broken line position shown in Figure 13), a relatively steep portion 3| Ib of the cam 3I| swings the lever 301 counter-clockwise to engage its upper end into the notch 3|3 and thus to thrust link 303 to the left and swing bell crank lever 298 clockwise (Figure 16) to tighten the brake band 254, thus to prevent overstepping of the drive of shaft |15 and related parts following the disengagement of clutch parts 226-221 under the control of cam 252 (Figure 17).

With the halting of shaft |15, the brake-controlling parts remain in the position just described and as shown in Figure 15, but upon the subsequent energization of solenoid 244-245 under the control of machine switches 2I1, 2I1b, etc., as above described, the withdrawal of the clutch lever abutment 24| (Figure 17) that follows is accompanied by a clockwise movement of arm 305 (Figure 15) to swing link 303 upwardly and thus to trip its notched part 3I3 out of engagement with the cam lever 391, thus releasing the tension on the brake band 234 and freeing the drive of shaft 230, commenced when clutch parts 225, 221 are engaged, from the action of the brake.

Switches 222, 22211, etc., of the various machines (Figure 17), each controlled by a cam 220 on the cam shaft 28 of each machine, are connected in series by conductors 3|5, 3I6, etc., and by way of conductors 3I1 and 3I3 are bridged across or connected in parallel to the contacts of switch 213 which by conductors 320 and 32| is connected in circuit with one pair of the conductors |03, |09, H0 of the main power line but through the winding 322 of a control switch generally indicated by the reference character 323 which is interposed between the line conductors I08-I00-I I!) and the circuit conductors 262- 263-254, respectively. Switch 323 is so constructed that energization of winding 322 holds the switch 323 closed and deenergization thereof effects opening of the switch. Cam 220 of the luring machine, and likewise the same cam on the other machine or machines of the group or series, are shaped to have a portion of small angular extent for moving the cam follower in switch-closing direction just prior to the halting of the cam shaft 28 which, as above described, takes place when the part |a of the lock lever |05 enters the recess |24 in the slidable clutch member 33 and for releasing it from switchclosing position only after a small subsequent angular or rotary movement of shaft 28 takes place in response to a subsequent engagement of clutch parts 33, 32.

During the interval between movement of switch 222 (and also of the corresponding switches, such as switch 222b of the other machine or machines) into closing position and its movement into open position, switch 213 (Figure 17) is open, for it is during that interval that the advancing movement of bed I9 takes place. Switches 222, 2221 etc., thus maintain the circuit of control winding 322 closed while switch 213 is open, and Vice versa, thus holding the safety switch 323 closed. But should any action take place during the operation of the apparatus to open switch 213 (as would happen if a rotary movement of bed I0 took place accidentally, or otherwise) while switches 222, 222b, etc., are open (and the machines corresponding to the latter switches operating), control winding 322 isA immediately deenergized and safety switch 323 opens, halting motor 225 and open-circuiting other parts connected to the main circuit; should vanything happen to any one of the machines,

such as a jamming of any part, a breakage, or the like, such as, for example, a condition in which any one of these switches ,remains open or becomes opened during the commencement or continuatoin of an advancing step of movement of the bed I9, the latter being accompanied by opening of switch 213, control Winding 322 becomes deenergized and safety switch 323 opens.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a method and apparatus in which the various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the apparatus is of thoroughly dependable action and control, is eflicient in operation and is thoroughly safe and dependable in action.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for operating upon the crown and the two sides of the brim of a hat body, comprising a frame carrying means for supporting and rotating a hat body, a frame movably supportingthree operating tools, one for the. crown, one for the upper brim side, androne for the under brim side, means operating in repeated cycles to effect relative movement between said two frames into successive relative positions in one of which said hat supporting and rotating means with a hat body supported thereby and said tools are operatively related and in the other of which they are out of operative relation,

means operating in repeated cycles to traverse said crown tool from the tip of the crown to the band portion thereof and thereby to move said 

